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Identifying the First-Gen Ford Mustang2023 GMC Sierra 1500: Capable Luxury
The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 offers great looks and plenty of power. We look at powertrain, interior options, trim levels, and more. Find out our thoughts here.
What’s new for the 2023 GMC Sierra?
The 2023 Sierra doesn’t change much compared to the 2022 version. The AT4X gets additional off-road gear from American Expedition Vehicles like steel bumpers and a winch. Now in its fourth generation, the 2023 GMC Sierra is available with four drivetrains, rear or four-wheel drive, and eight different trim levels.
2023 GMC Sierra – gmc.com | Shop 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Great engines
Maximum configurability
AT4X is supreme off-road
Very expensive
Ho-hum warranty
Limited SuperCruise availability
Needs more safety aids
2023 Sierra Specs
- 310 horsepower from base engine
- 348 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 8 available trims
- 13,200-lb towing capacity
- 13.4-inch infotainment system
- Forward collision mitigation
- 3-year limited warranty coverage
2023 GMC Sierra Powertrain
GMC offers four different engines in the 2023 Sierra and the choice of rear or four-wheel drive on almost every trim level. The base drivetrain is a 2.7-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 310 hp and 348 lb-ft of torque with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Optional engines include a 5.3-liter V8 engine which generates 355 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Those who want to focus on the best possible driving experience should check out the optional 6.2-liter V8 engine that generates 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. For drivers that need a great mix of towing power and great fuel economy, GMC offers the 3.0-liter turbodiesel with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.
All three of these upper engine options all use the same 10-speed automatic transmission which we enjoy as well. It’s fast, reliable, and smooth.
Towing & Payload
When properly equipped, the 2023 GMC Sierra can tow up to 13,200 pounds and carry a payload of up to 2,240 pounds. Those figures are very competitive for the segment.
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Fuel Economy & MPG
Considering that there are multiple powertrains on offer in the Sierra, fuel economy numbers span a wide range. The majority of buyers will end up with either the 5.3-liter V8 or the 6.2-liter V8. The former of which gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined and the latter of which gets 17 mpg combined. A 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine gets at best 20 mpg combined but the real fuel efficiency king is a 3.0-liter inline-six diesel engine. It gets up to 26 mpg combined.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
All of our cries about the somewhat cheap and plastic interior on higher-end GM products have been answered in the new GMC Sierra. Gone are the Fisher-Price-looking buttons and switches in favor of a mix of real metal along with piano-black switchgear. No, it’s still not perfect on a truck that can easily cost north of $80,000, but it’s a huge step forward from where the Sierra was only a few years ago.
In addition, the seats, the door cards, and the center console finally feel worthy of a truck at this price point. The stitching and layout are especially nice touches that elevate this truck beyond its past. Both rows of seats offer excellent headroom and legroom. Some models offer cargo space beneath the second row and we love that feature.
Of course, tech around the bed is seriously vital on any pickup and the Sierra has it in spades. The MultiPro tailgate is a revelation and comes on every trim aside from the base truck. On top of that, owners can spec bed-mounted cameras, a spray-in bedliner, and even speakers mounted in the tailgate itself.
Entertainment & Technology
The base Sierra gets a somewhat old-school 7-inch infotainment system. Step up to any other trim though and you’ll have an appropriately large 13.4-inch screen staring back from the dash. It’s one of the best in the business and utilizes that real estate to provide big clear buttons and menus that are easy to use on the move.
GMC employs a system that has Google built in so it’s intuitive and fast too. On top of that, users can employ Android Auto and Apple CarPlay should they want to. The integrated navigation works well and we’re seriously impressed by the heads-up display available on upper trims. It’s vivid, easy to understand, and sincerely helpful instead of just gimmicky.
Safety Features
We’re still waiting on safety scores from the IIHS surrounding the 2023 GMC Sierra. What we do know is that the NHTSA gave it five stars after crash tests. In addition, it comes with blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and forward collision mitigation. We’d love to see GMC also include adaptive cruise control as a standard feature.
2023 GMC Sierra Trims & Pricing
Pro – $38,995
The base Sierra pickup is still quite capable with its four-cylinder engine and RWD. It also gets 17-inch steel wheels, heated exterior mirrors, a tilt-only steering wheel, LED headlights, a 7-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, six speakers, cloth or vinyl upholstery, remote keyless entry, two USB ports, chrome bumpers, and vinyl floor coverings. Safety equipment includes lane-keep assist and forward collision mitigation. The 5.3-liter V8 and 4WD are both available in this trim.
SLE – $52,095
Going for the SLE means getting the four-cylinder but having access to both the 5.3-liter V8 and the diesel. In addition, it comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED bed lighting, two 120-volt power outlets, dual-zone automatic climate control, carpeted flooring, remote start, an automatically-locking rear differential, a rearview camera with trailer hitch guidelines, the MultiPro tailgate, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a 13.4-inch infotainment system, a digital gauge cluster, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, satellite radio, and cruise control.
Elevation – $53,795
This trim adds a little bit of towing capacity, 20-inch wheels, cloth upholstery, a single-speed transfer case in 4WD-equipped versions, and LED fog lights.
SLT – $57,795
The SLT adds luxury items like chrome exterior trim, leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, heated and power-folding mirrors, a 120-volt power outlet, driver’s seat memory settings, a power-adjustable passenger seat, rain-sensing wipers, and wireless Android and Apple connectivity.
Denali – $67,595
Get the Denali and you’ll have 20-inch wheels, heated second-row seats, ventilated front seats, wireless charging, a spray-in bedliner, a Bose sound system, a bed-view camera system, an adaptive suspension, an integrated trailer brake controller, side steps, a power tilt-and-telescope steering wheel, and a two-speed transfer case for 4WD-equipped models.
AT4 – $68,595
The off-road-focused AT4 gets 4WD and a two-inch lift as standard equipment along with either the 6.2-liter V8 or the diesel. It also employs recovery hooks, hill-descent control, a two-speed transfer case, all-terrain tires, skid plates, adjustable traction control, and an upgraded suspension with monotube shocks.
Denali Ultimate – $82,495
As the poshest version of this truck, the Denali Ultimate gets a virtual rearview mirror camera system, tailgate-mounted speakers, massaging front seats, a heads-up display, 22-inch wheels, a carbon-fiber composite bed, power-deploying side-steps, adaptive cruise control, a sunroof, and GM’s SuperCruise semi-autonomous driving system.
AT4X – $83,595
Typically, the AT4X wouldn’t be considered the top of the pile but after a price increase in November, it’s the most expensive version of the Sierra. It gets off-road-specific DSSV dampers, parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, a power-sliding rear window, tailgate-mounted speakers, a heads-up display, a sunroof, electronically-locking differentials, and massaging front seats. It does lose SuperCruise functionality though.
Warranties
GMC seems like a brand that could offer a better warranty but alas, all customers are subject to a three-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. They also get a single routine maintenance visit for free. Sure, that could be worse, but it’s also about the most basic package in this segment. You’ll also get the exact same coverage if you go for a cheaper Chevrolet version of this truck.
What we think
2023 GMC Sierra – gmc.com | Shop 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 on Carsforsale.com
Historically, the GMC Sierra has been well-known as the luxurious version of a Chevrolet Silverado. It’s still that but the gap isn’t as wide as it was in the past. With the right new car incentives and the right sized bank account, it’s still well worth the cash though. For example, going far off-road has never been as comfortable as it is in a Sierra AT4X.
